For all the beginner videographers out there, we’re here to help out with our Beginner Videography series! In this first instalment, we’ll be discussing some beginner videography shots and variations to use as you become more confident with the camera. Shots are the building blocks of the story you are telling, so mastering them will help you further your craft. Let’s get started!
Beginner Videography Shots: Shot Types
Shots are important to create variety within videography, and there are many to choose from. The simplest three are wide, medium and close-up.
Wide shots are those in which the entire subject is visible (in human terms, from head to toe) as well as the background. These are often used to introduce settings by showing a shot of the settings (woods, beach, house etc), and are known as establishing shots.
Medium shots move in a little closer on the subject matter (in human terms, focusing from the waist up). These are common shots within movies.
Close-up shots fill the entire screen with the subject. An example of this would be a shot of somebody’s face or eyes. These are also called tight shots.
There are different variations of these shots, and by experimenting with these 3 shots, you will find variations that work for you. Don’t forget to use different angles and perspectives with your camera, as this will make your footage more interesting.
We would recommend practicing framing some shots with your smartphone before investing in more expensive camera equipment. That way, you’ll be ready to go when you have your camera ready!
Bonus Shots To Try
These basic shots will serve as building blocks which you can expand upon. After a while, you may want to move onto new ideas and more complex shot types. These can include:
- Shooting over a subject’s shoulder
- Filming close up shots of actions, such as washing up, turning a door handle etc
- Low and high angle shots
- Tilting your camera to convey distress (also known as a Dutch angle or tilt shot)
- Aerial shots using drones
Camera Movements
Practicing camera movements is essential! Constantly using a tripod won’t make for an exciting sequence of shots, and will have zero personal touch. If you know the scenes you intend to film, note down a shot list of what would work best for each.
Shot Composition & Framing
Shot composition refers to the way in which people or objects are arranged in the frame. The arrangement can help you to tell a story, create an aesthetically appealing piece of media and translate your ideas.
The most important concept is the rule of thirds. For this, imagine two evenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines across your frame. You should place your object at the intersection of these lines. You can practice composition with your smartphone first. If you have videography equipment such as a DSLR camera, focusing attention on your subject’s eyes is important for your audience.
Beginner Videography Shots: Top Tips
- A camera sequence that works great is a wide shot moving into a medium shot and concluding with two or three close-ups. Bear this in mind when editing!
- Now that you have the shots, try physically moving around with the camera to make your footage more visually interesting
- You can never have too many shots! In the editing process, it’s important to have lots of choice!
How Audiosocket Can Help
This article is all about creating great video content, and that’s where we can help! With your movies, advertisements, YouTube videos or vlogs, it’s never too early to start looking for additional elements such as music.
If you are looking for authentic, top-quality music for your project, why not check out Audiosocket? Your content deserves the best, so sign up today and access 85,000+ songs to bring your vision to life! You can access Audiosocket’s music catalog for just $15 a month as a Personal creator. Not only that, but this allows you to license an unlimited number of tracks at no additional cost. Talk about win-win!
For more tips, check out our articles on writing short films, video editing tips, background music for video and more!
